A Global Exhibition

Campaign priority

A Global Exhibition

Thomas Jefferson: Inventing America

In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson supplied a template for citizenship that has inspired change around the globe. Two centuries later, his words are echoed in the foundational documents of countless nations—as powerful today as they were in 1776.

For his ideas—and the courage it took to articulate them—we celebrate Jefferson as an American citizen, and a citizen of the world.

In 2016, Monticello will break new ground by mounting the inaugural exhibition of U.S. history in the People’s Republic of China. Thomas Jefferson: Inventing America is designed to be a conversation between two cultures—a trailblazing opportunity to share the founding chapter of the American narrative with a Chinese audience.

Jefferson’s genius is reflected in every facet of American life. Exhibition materials will embody his fundamental role in “inventing America”—not only politically, as author of the Declaration of Independence, but through contributions to art, science, culture, and academia. Thomas Jefferson: Inventing America will feature a rich mixture of authentic objects, artwork, and interactive media. Highlights include an original version of the Declaration of Independence and a full-scale reproduction of Jefferson’s Cabinet. After its initial installation in China, the exhibition will travel to other major cities throughout the world.

We are committed to sharing Jefferson’s ideas—and the incomparable experience of a Monticello visit—with a global audience.